The Great Gardens of Cornwall have announced that spring has arrived in the county, three weeks earlier than the rest of the UK.*

Historically the six champion Magnolia campbellii trees – in Caerhays Castle Gardens; Trebah Garden; Tregothnan; Trewidden; Trewithen; and The Lost Gardens of Heligan – have been used to mark the sign of spring’s arrival in the county. Cornwall declares the arrival of spring when all six trees each have over 50 blooms.

“We’re not as early as we were in 2015,” comments Charles Williams, Chairman of the Great Gardens of Cornwall. “but due to the warmth of the Gulf Stream, spring has once again arrived in Cornwall first and now is the time to see the county’s multi-prize winning magnolias at their stunning best. Cornwall is home to some of the most exciting, rare and beautiful plants and trees in the British Isles and, for those who enjoy seeing gardens in full bloom, they are a sight not to be missed.”

“Cornwall enjoys a very early spring – nearly a month ahead of the rest of the UK,” says Iain Davies, Head of Gardens & Estate, Heligan. “The Great Gardens of Cornwall are stunning at any time of year, but one of the very best times to visit Cornish gardens is when the Magnolias are in full bloom during the early part of the spring season”.

In 2015, the first flowering Magnolia campbellii was recorded on 21st January.

Cornwall’s Spring Story – the moment Cornish Magnolias flower, spring has arrived in England – was founded by Toby Ashworth of The Nare Hotel, in partnership with the Great Gardens of Cornwall. It was in response to the fact that, by waiting until May, many garden lovers were missing the most splendid sight of all – the flowering of the magnolias which occurred in February and March each year.